ANKARA
Over a thousand people have been taken into custody awaiting charges and 58 have been arrested during nationwide unrest in Turkey over the past week, according to figures given by Turkish Interior Minister, Efkan Ala on Friday.
The death toll stands at thirty one, including two police officers who were killed during clashes in cities across Turkey involving the police and pro-Kurdish groups. A total of 221 people were injured.
The protests stemmed from the Kurdistan Workers' Party call for combat against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant forces besieging the border town of Kobani.
Minister Ala said on Friday that a total of 1,113 buildings were damaged during the demonstations. Over two hundred of them were school buildings, 67 police buildings, 25 government and 29 party buildings, as well as kindergartens, Turkish Red Crescent blood centers and 780 municipal buildings.
At least 1,177 vehicles, including public transportation vehicles, ambulances and police vehicles were destroyed as well, according to the interior minister.
The nationwide protests broke out after ISIL-militants penetrated the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobani, known as Ayn al-Arab, on Monday.
Turkish officials have said the country is against supporting PYD (an offshoot of PKK in Syria) fighters in Kobani with military and financial aid, even if Turkey fights against ISIL.
The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey as well as by the U.S. and the European Union.
www.aa.com.tr/en
